In a major crackdown, the Anti-Immigration Fraud Unit in Panchkula has exposed a gang involved in cheating job seekers by promising overseas employment. Four accused, including a husband-wife duo, have been arrested in connection with a Rs12 lakh fake Australia work visa scam.
According to Panchkula DCP Srishti Gupta, the case came to light after a youth from Ludhiana filed a complaint alleging he was duped under the pretext of securing a work visa for Australia. The accused reportedly took a large sum of money and provided him with a forged visa document.
An FIR was registered on February 27 at the Sector 5 police station. The victim told investigators that he had approached the suspects through an immigration office in Ambala while exploring opportunities abroad.
The accused — Harbhajan Singh, Harpreet alias Bumpy, Chirag Narula, and Neha — allegedly promised to arrange the visa in exchange for Rs12 lakh. They collected his passport and other documents and later informed him that his visa had been approved.
On November 8, 2025, the victim was called to a restaurant in Panchkula, where he handed over Rs12 lakh in cash. In return, the accused gave him a fake visa and even showed it as verified online to make it appear authentic. Trusting them, he spent an additional Rs5 lakh on travel expenses, including flight tickets and hotel bookings, before discovering the fraud.
Inspector Yogvendra Singh revealed that the investigation uncovered key evidence, including WhatsApp conversations, bank records, and forged visa papers. Acting on technical leads, police first arrested one accused from Ludhiana on March 17, followed by the arrest of the remaining three from Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh.
Police officials stated that the group had been running a fraudulent firm since 2022 and already had multiple cases registered against them. At least six cases have been filed in Ambala and Panchkula, with more complaints emerging from Yamunanagar. Two additional suspects are still on the run.
During the operation, authorities recovered Rs3.3 lakh in cash, five mobile phones, and several important documents. After completion of police remand, all four accused have been sent to judicial custody.
